The Royal Tudor Beasts - The Royal Dragon UK 2026

The Royal Mint is gradually commemorating the heraldic beasts of the Tudor royal family. The next commemorative coin in this collector’s series is dedicated to the royal dragon.

Legends attribute a wide variety of forms to dragons. While some have a single head, others have several. In the early Middle Ages, they were depicted with a serpent’s body, a dog’s head, a lion’s legs, and a bird’s wings. It was not until the 14th century that dragons began to be dominated by characteristic lizard-like features, and their membranous wings resembled those of a bat. In any case, however, they are majestic creatures that fly, breathe fire, and wield immeasurable power… Legends say that this mythical creature, symbolizing power and courage, already adorned the standard of the legendary King Arthur. However, it is most closely associated with Wales—the oldest surviving records confirming that this country had a red dragon in its coat of arms date back to 829. Later, the winged beast became associated with the Tudor dynasty when Owen Tudor adopted the dragon as his own to emphasize his Welsh roots and reference the very origins of the island’s majesty. When his grandson Henry VII became king in 1485, the Tudor colors green and white were added to the red. Since then, it has been referred to as the royal dragon…

The reverse side of the coin, designed by artist David Lawrence, features a mythical dragon holding the Beaufort shield in its claws. The obverse side of the coin is dedicated to the issuer’s attributes -namely, a portrait of King Charles III, the text CHARLES III D G REX F D (Charles III, by the Grace of God, King, Defender of the Faith), and the nominal value of 5 POUNDS (GBP).

The commemorative coin, minted from base metals, is stored in special packaging that tells its story through words and images (in English).